Vinyl Glossary: The Collector's Lexicon

Record pressed with 180 g of material instead of the standard ~120-140 g. Stiffer and more stable on the platter; it does not guarantee better sound on its own, but reduces resonance and resists warping.

Book-style sleeve that opens out into two or more panels. Used for double LPs or to make room for photos, lyrics and credits. An intact original gatefold affects collector value.

Codes etched in the smooth run-out between the last groove and the label. They identify the plant, edition and sometimes the mastering engineer: the main tool for dating and authenticating a pressing.

Vertical paper strip wrapping the edge of the sleeve, typical of Japanese editions. It carries title, price and notes in Japanese. Its presence in original form significantly increases a record's value.

The first pressing of a record, contemporary with its release, made from the original stampers. Often preferred by collectors for fidelity and value, though not always sonically superior to a well-remastered reissue.

The smooth area between the end of the music and the label, where the groove loops back on itself. It hosts the matrix and pressing codes; on many editions it also carries hand-etched messages or engineers' signatures.